Amtrak plans consolidation, training at newly purchased Groton site

Published November 21. 2012 4:00PM

Updated November 21. 2012 10:58PM

Groton — Following Amtrak’s purchase last month of 23 acres for $4 million from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, an Amtrak spokesman says future plans for the site could include a training facility.

Amtrak bought several tracts of land next to its Midway maintenance facility off Industrial Drive, near the entrance to Bluff Point Coastal Reserve. Part of the purchased land that is adjacent to the facility was previously used as a Foxwoods employee parking lot and shuttle stop.

Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole said initial use of the property will be to consolidate inventory from Maintenance of Way bases in Hamden and Providence, freeing up space for Amtrak’s engineering department. Later, Cole said it could be used to train employees, track welders for example, bypassing the need to send employees to other parts of the region.